Public Hearings on Regulation NMS To Be Held on April 1 and 21, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE2004-32

Washington, DC, March 12, 2004 - The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it will hold public hearings on proposed Regulation NMS (http://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed/34-49325.htm), which is designed to enhance and modernize the regulatory structure of the U.S. equity markets. The hearings will be held on Thursday, April 1, 2004, and Wednesday, April 21, 2004. Requests for participation in the hearings must be received by Monday, March 22, 2004, and copies of oral statements or summaries of intended testimony must be submitted by Friday, March 26, 2004. Details on format, participants and testimony presentation are contained in the Commission's formal Notice of Hearings, http://www.sec.gov/rules/other/34-49408.htm.